THE SPITZ TAKE: Can you picture Miley Cyrus as an ambassador?

Wednesday

Feb 12, 2014 at 12:01 AM

If you paid 15 cents to see "Little Miss Marker'' in the theater, you don't need any explanation of what Shirley Temple meant to Americans and why you're saddened to hear she died Monday night.If Miley Cyrus and Justin Bieber are the first people who come to mind when you hear "child star,'' no explanation of Curly Top's appeal will make much sense.As a little girl, she had the pluck and charm to be a role model for adults. Despite invariably being an orphan in her screen roles, she could get through most anything with a song, a dance and a smile. She offered sunshine in the thick of Depression and Dust Bowl hardship. She was cute as a button and all business, too.But perhaps the most remarkable part is she didn't turn out to be a dysfunctional mess of an adult.In fact, she was a well-regarded ambassador and President Ford's chief of protocol, as well as a wife, mother and co-founder of the International Federation of Multiple Sclerosis Societies.It's not just that things were different back then. They were, but kid stars have always had a history of not dealing particularly well with the price of fame or the heartbreak of having the white-hot spotlight fade away. Things didn't end well for Temple's arguably far more talented contemporary, Judy Garland.Other than Annette Funicello and some Osmonds, young celebrities of the past century have almost invariably spiraled out of control. Some manage to make it through the lows relatively unscathed. Almost none go on to great heights in an unrelated field.What gave Temple the ability? That's one of those things that's pretty hard to fathom. From what has been written about her, the usual ingredients for implosion were all there: Determined stage mom. Grueling shooting schedule. No real childhood to speak of.She got married young, got divorced, got married again and then, rather than spending her life as tabloid fodder, she embarked on a diplomatic career.It's pretty hard to envision Cyrus or Bieber as a future ambassador to Ghana.Of course, some things defy believability, like the fact this probably isn't the worst winter in history, even though it feels that way, and even though whatever is heading our way Thursday is likely to add insult to injury, then leave us in the dark.And some things are unexplainable, like why we've had so many cars hitting pedestrians recently, although there are no factors consistent in the rash of accidents, just the fact it seems like a very dangerous time to be a pedestrian, no matter where you're walking or at what time of day.So maybe our current crop of underage idols will go on to do great things.Maybe we'll see Lindsay Lohan make her mark in medicine. Maybe Honey Boo Boo will turn out to be a philanthropist and supporter of the fine arts. Maybe the youngest Jenner/Kardashians will have rewarding careers in social work.I suppose anything is possible, except for one thing: There will never, ever be another child star so universally adored by a nation for so many decades.While those of us who remember her movies only as black and white reruns on Saturday afternoon TV can never truly understand what she meant to our parents and grandparents, we fully understand there will never be another Shirley Temple Black.Julia Spitz can be reached at 508-626-3968 or jspitz@wickedlocal.com. Follow her on Twitter at SpitzJ_MW.